Chris Dawson ordered to stand trial

Chris Dawson has been ordered to stand trial over the alleged murder of his wife Lynette who disappeared from the couple's Sydney home 38 years ago. A four-day committal hearing has wrapped up after several witnesses took to the stand. The 71-year-old has pleaded not guilty to killing Ms Dawson. The former high school PE teacher has claimed the mother of his two children ran away to join a cult. Mr Dawson will face the Supreme Court in April for arraignment on the murder charge. A body has never been found. Image: News Corp Australia

Chris Dawson has been committed to stand trial for the murder of his wife Lynette on Sydney’s northern beaches nearly 40 years ago.

Chris Dawson has been committed to stand trial for the murder of his wife Lynette, 40 years after the Sydney mum disappeared.

Dawson, now 71, will face a jury trial later this year.

The disappearance of Lyn Dawson, and the suspicions surrounding her husband, were detailed in true crime podcast Teacher's Pet in 2018.

Chris Dawson with wife Lynette and twin brother Paul (left) as best man on their wedding day. Image: SuppliedSource:Whimn

The body of Lyn has never been found, despite police conducting a dig at the couple’s former Northern Beaches home in 2018.

Dawson has always maintained his innocence.

Whimn journalist Nina Young describes the day she found out her father was a murderer here. Plus, follow her incredible journey on hit podcast ‘My Father the Murderer’.

His hearing this week heard evidence from two witnesses who claim they saw Lyn after her disappearance in 1982.

Chris Dawson's brother-in-law Ross Hutcheon told the court he saw Lyn later in the same year. Giving evidence from Perth via video link, Hutcheon said he was driving in Gladesville three to six months after Lyn's disappearance when he saw her at a bus stop.

He said he drove several minutes down the road before turning around, but that the woman was gone by the time he got there. He did not report the sighting, despite knowing Lyn had been reported missing.

Earlier in the week, family friend Elva McBay and former neighbours Peter and Jill Breese also testified they'd seen Lyn alive after she went missing.

Dawson will face trial at the Supreme Court later this year after being committed by magistrate Jacqueline Trad in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.